EVENTFUL EVENING SEES EFFERTZ EMERGE WITH OVERALL WHITE RACE WIN

BUCHANAN, Wis. (July 13, 2023) – There was no shortage of action in Thursday night’s Kurz Industrial Solutions White Race for the Fox River Racing Club at Wisconsin International Raceway.

When the final points were tabulated on the night, Sawyer Effertz claimed the overall win with a victory in the second 33-lap feature, a Third Place finish in the first and fast time. RJ Braun won the first 33 lapper in the Schmitty’s Tickets Super Late Models.

The win backed up Effertz’s overall win in June’s Red Race and gives him a healthy 23-point lead over Lowell Bennett in the Ken’s Sports / Lamers Racing Red, White, and Blue standings.

Tim Springstroh secured an early lead in the first feature.  A quick pause fell on the race as an incident claimed the likes of Lowell Bennett, Jeff VanOudenhoven, Gabe Sommers, Jordan Thiel, and Andy Monday on lap one.  All but Sommers were able to make repairs and continue.

The restart saw Springstroh jump away from the pack again as Grant Griesbach battled Michael Anthony for Third. Griesbach, Maxwell Schultz, and Braun would then complete the Top Five until a yellow for debris on lap 12.

Much the same, Springstroh had a strong restart. This time, however, Braun followed into Second.   This left Vandermoss to deal with Griesbach and Schultz. Griesbach dashed to the outside of Vandermoss while Schultz looked low. The end result saw Griesbach spin – both he and Schultz were sent to the tail.

The following restart was single file on lap 13.  Braun held with Springstroh and took the lead away on lap 14. Springstroh kept close tabs over the next ten laps.   As he stayed within striking distance, Brent Strelka and Effertz were on the move. Strelka took Third on lap 18 with Effertz following a lap later. They later went on to close in on Springstroh as Braun built a lead. 

Braun cruised to the checkered flag, Strelka took Second, Effertz was Third, Chad Butz stole Fourth late in the going, and Springstroh crossed the line Fifth.

After an invert of the Top Seven from the first feature Jordan Thiel and Jeff VanOudenhoven brought the field to green in the Second 33.  Thiel took early control until a yellow for a spin by Braun exiting turn four.

Thiel was joined by Chad Butz on the front row for the restart. Thiel surged ahead leaving Butz to fend off VanOudenhoven.  Effertz soon began to close in.  At the halfway point Effertz swiped the Third spot from VanOudenhoven, but Thiel and Butz were well ahead, looking to settle the race.

However, as the two did battle, both Effertz and VanOudenhoven closed in.  With four laps to go the battle came to a head entering turn one. Butz would go spinning with Thiel deemed involved. Both were sent to the tail and Effertz assumed the lead.

After a botched restart for an incident between Braun and Schultz, Effertz and VanOudenhoven broke away to settle the race.  VanOudenhoven gave one final challenge, but could not move past Effertz. The win was Effertz’s fifth of the season, with VanOudenhoven in Second, Griesbach in Third, Lowell Bennett in Fourth and Strelka Fifth.

REICHENBERGER ROLLS TO LATE MODEL VICTORY

Brandon Reichenberger got over the hump in the 20-lap Fox City’s Towing Late Model feature, scoring his first win of the season. After coming close two weeks ago, Reichenberger was able to hold off Braison Bennett for the victory.

A melee on lap one saw Matt Wittman go spinning into turns three and four. The incident claimed fast qualifier Brent Strelka, Justin Woller, and Scott Wolf. Both Wittman and fellow front-row starter Adam Faull were sent to the tail.

Bryan Monday secured the lead from the new front row he shared with Tarra Springstroh. After claiming the lead, Reichenberger and Braison Bennett slipped past Springstroh into Second and Third. Reichenberger then snuck past Monday into the lead on lap four.  One lap later Bennett followed.

The lead duo broke away as Monday and Todd Verhagen engaged in an astounding side-by-side battle for Third. A yellow with four to go broke up the battle and left the field to a single-file restart.

Reichenberger and Bennett broke away once again with Bennett looking to challenge. However, Reichenberger maintained a healthy advantage and was able to secure the victory by a car length over Bennett.  JJ Vanderloop recovered from the lap-one scrum to race to Third, Monday was Fourth, and Verhagen was Fifth.

MOORE MASTERS SUPER STOCKS

The outsiders claimed another Red, White and Blue win in the Novus Auto Glass Super Stocks as Tommy Moore held off a late charge from TJ Smith in the 20-lap feature.

Mitch Opsahl took an early lead with Moore, Clint Evans, George Schwalbach and Smith in tow.  Moore awaited his opportunity to strike and stole the lead on lap five.  After a yellow on lap six, Moore was able to secure the lead again. This time Smith followed into Second.  As Opsahl tried to tuck back in line, cars checked up behind him – the result was in incident between Dylan Wenzel and Clint Evans which ended Wenzels race as he spun to the infield.

On the final restart Moore and Smith broke away to settle the battle for the win. Moore held the inside line, giving plenty of room for Smith to try the outside.  Although he got even on several occasions, Smith was unable to make the pass.

With the win, Moore accomplished a rare feat by winning a race with the same car on both the quarter and half mile. He drove the same car to a heat race win on the half-mile with the Mid-Am Series in May.  Smith was Second, Opsahl was Third, Evans was Fourth, and Trevor Howard finished Fifth.

PLUTZ RETURNS TO SPORT TRUCK VICTORY LANE

Jason Plutz returned to the Wisconsin Sport Trucks with a fury by taking commanding win in the 20-lap feature event.

Also making his return, Tommy Gee grabbed the lead on lap two of the feature and set the pace out front. By lap five Plutz and Landon Braatz were to Second and Third, and were closing in on Gee.  Plutz eventually shook free and moved past Gee into the lead on lap eight.

In the second half of the race Logan Mahoney, Kyle Quella, and Kasey and Cody Vanderloop moved toward the Top Five to settle those spots.  However, Plutz proved to be untouchable cruising to the win. Kasey Vanderloop secured Second, Mahoney was Third, Gee held Fourth, and Cody Vanderloop was Fifth.

SCHOMMER CAPITALIZES FOR SECOND STRAIGHT SIZZLIN’ 4 WIN

Eli Schommer was in the right place at the right time to grab his second straight Roundabout Bar and Grill Sizzlin’ 4 20-lap feature win.  With the leaders tangling on the final lap, Schommer slipped by and soared to the win.

Mike Klein took the lead on lap three and set a strong pace. Meanwhile Gavin Klein was working through the field with Schommer and fast qualifier Justin Fickel.  On lap 14, Gavin Klein took Second, but appeared to have issues as he could not maintain full speed down the straights. This allowed Fickel and Schommer to get past with four to go.

The duo eventually tracked down Klein, leading to Fickel providing a challenge on the last lap. The two raced furiously, which led to them making contact and scrambling to save their machines. Schommer saw the opportunity and scooted past to take the lead in turns three and four.  He smoothly glided to the checkered flag. FIckel was able to recover for Second, Mike Klein also recovered and finished Third, Mitch Opsahl was Fourth and Jeremy Czarapata rounded out the Top Five.

ROCKSTAR RUSS AVOIDS ‘X ACTION’ TO SCORE FIGURE 8 WIN

Although he led all of the 13-lap Marty Nussbaum Racing Figure 8 feature, picking up a first win of the season was anything but easy for Russ Lorbiecki.

Lorbiecki was chased throughout the entire race by Craig Krueger.  With a challenger in tow, Lorbiecki had to tip-toe very carefully through the X as he caught traffic several times.  However, Lorbeicki was able to avoid contact and hold off Krueger by a car length at the checkered flag. Tyler Vanderbloemen was Third, Jordan Gracyanly Fourth, and Mitch Opsahl was Fifth.

NEXT WEEK…

Midwest Restoration helps the Fox River Racing Club present the action. The Super Late Models, Late Models, Super Stocks, WIR ¼-Mile Late Models, Sizzlin’ 4s, and Figure 8s will be in action. Racing begins at 6:30.